Rav Aharon Shmuel was born in 5384/1624 in Kaidenov, where his father, Rav Yisrael, was Rav.
He learned under Rav Heschel in Cracow. Following the petira of Rav Heschel, Rav Shmuel was considered the Posek HaDor.
Among his noted talmidim is the Shach, to whom Rav Shmuel gave a warm haskoma on the first edition of his sefer.
During the calamities of the rebellion of Chmielnicki, known by the acronym of its years as Tach V’Tat, 5408–9/1648–9, Rav Shmuel was forced to flee. His two young daughters were killed, his house was burned down and many of his seforim were destroyed.
He settled in Poland, and was appointed Rav and Rosh Yeshiva of Nikolsburg. He visited many kehillos, where he was always received with honor.
He was a Talmid Chochom, a Rav and a Mekubal.
Rav Shmuel was Rav in Brisk, Fiorda and Frankfurt. He expected to remain in Frankfurt, but when Cracow invited him to come there, he agreed, explaining that he saw in this a continuation of his Rebbe’s life’s work.
Rav Shmuel was niftar on the 19th of Tammuz 5436/1676, at the age of fifty-two.
He wrote several seforim: Birkas HaZevach on Seder Kodshim; Birkas Shmuel on the Torah; Teshuvos Emunas Shmuel, his responsa; and Tiferes Shmuel, chiddushim on the Rosh.
- אמונת שמואל: שו"ת •Download Shut Responsa Emunas Shmuel
- ברכת הזבח: על סדר קדשים •Download Birkas Zevach on Kodshim
- ברכת שמואל: על התורה •Download Birkas Shmuel on Torah
- תפארת שמואל: על הרא"ש והטורים •Download Tiferes Shmuel on Rosh & Tur
His son, Rav Tzvi Hirsch, wrote Kav HaYoshor. Rav Nachum, the brother of the Shach, was his son-in-law.
Zecher tzaddik livrachah.
